A roundup of today's other stories in brief:
Harney denies Cowen asked her to rejoin FF
Minister for Health Mary Harney has said she was not asked by the Taoiseach Brian Cowen to rejoin Fianna Fáil, writes Eithne Donnellan.
At Government Buildings yesterday, she said she had seen a reference in the Sunday Tribuneto the effect that Mr Cowen wanted her back in the party. "I have not been asked . . . he had no such conversation with me."
It had been suggested Mr Cowen wanted her to rejoin his party once the Progressive Democrats are formally wound up.
Businesses split on carbon tax
The first detailed analysis of attitudes of major companies towards climate changes shows that they are divided on the issue of carbon tax, writes Harry McGee.
Eighty chief executives from leading businesses were involved in a forum on climate change organised by Business in the Community Ireland (BICI).
The forum findings showed there was considerable debate about carbon tax, with many businesses expressing a preference for incentives for carbon reduction rather than a tax.
Two held after substance find
A Garda investigation has been opened following the discovery of an explosive substance in Mohill, Co Leitrim.
The discovery was made after searches on premises in the Carrigallen and Mohill areas on Friday morning by gardaí who were acting on intelligence received on the activities of suspected dissident republicans.
Two men were arrested shortly after midday under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act but were released without charge late on Saturday evening.
Man sold heroin to undercover garda
A Kildare man who sold heroin to an undercover garda in the city centre has been given an 18-month sentence by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Karl Mullen (30), Church Road, Celbridge, sold the plainclothes garda two street deals of heroin for €30. He was arrested nearby by two other gardaí who observed the transaction.
Mullen, a father of two, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with a street value of €300 at Wood Quay in February 2008.
Co-operation call for charity groups
A report has called for more co-operation between charitable agencies.
The report, which was commissioned by the specialist charity insurer Ecclesiastical Insurance, said agencies could increase efficiencies through greater collaboration.
Humanity award for Shay Cullen
Missionary priest Fr Shay Cullen is to be honoured with the Humanitarian Award at the 2009 Meteor Ireland Music Awards together with a donation of €100,000. The awards will be held at RDS, Dublin, on St Patrick’s Day.
Fr Cullen, who has been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize, is from Dublin and is a member of the Missionary Society of St Columban.
He has worked in protecting women and children and human rights in the Philippines since 1969.
Jesuits urge prison improvements
There is an urgent need to improve conditions in our prisons to ensure the safety of prison officers and prisoners, the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice has said.
Its statement followed riots at Mountjoy prison last Thursday, said to have involved up to 40 prisoners.
The Jesuit Centre unreservedly condemned the attacks on prison officers but said that attention needed to be given to overcrowding, which it said was the underlying factor creating tension and violence.